TYPES OF THE ACNE

Non-inflammatory acne
Whitehead : When the trapped sebum and bacteria stay below the skin surface, a whitehead is formed. Whiteheads may show up as tiny white spots, or they may be so small that they are invisible to the naked eye.

Blackhead : Occurs when the pore opens to the surface, and the sebum, which contains the skin pigment melanin, oxidizes and turns a brown/black color. It is not dirt and can not be washed away. Blackheads can last for a long time because the contents very slowly drain to the surface.


Inflammatory acne
Papule : A papule is a slightly elevated solid lesion. Papules are generally less than 5mm in diameter. Occurs when there is a break in the follicular wall. White blood cells rush in and the pore becomes inflamed. Papules grow to nodular acne.

Pustule : Pustules are filled with liquid mass containing dead skin cells, white blood cells and bacteria. Pustules are fragile and rupture easily. Pustules progress to cysts. Forms several days later when white blood cells make their way to the surface of the skin. This is what people usually refer to as a "pimple".


Nodular acne and cystic acne
An inflamed lesion can sometimes completely collapse or explode, severely inflaming the surrounding skin, and sometimes engulfing neighboring follicles. These lesions are called nodules or cysts:

Nodule:A nodule is an inflamed lesion that extends to deeper layers of the skin. A nodule is like papule . Nodules are painful and cause scars as they damage the inner tissues of the skin. When a follicle breaks along the bottom, total collapse can occur, causing a large, inflamed bump that can be sore to the touch.

Cyst:A cyst is a severe form of pustule that is filled with bacteria, pus, sebum and dead skin cells. Cysts cause pain and extend inside the skin damaging the skin tissue. Sometimes a severe inflammatory reaction can result in very large pus filled lesions.